Urgent action needed for Canterbury students

Student representatives are calling
for an urgent collaborative nationwide approach to
supporting students displaced by the tragic consequences of
last week’s Christchurch earthquake.

“The toll on the
people of Canterbury has been huge, and we are hearing
stories from students who are desperate to get out of the
region and resume their study plans as soon as possible
elsewhere, yet they’re facing barriers when seeking to
transfer,” said Max Hardy, Co-President of the New Zealand
Union of Students’ Associations (NZUSA).

While some
students can and will remain in Christchurch, and support
for those staying will also be of paramount importance, many
students have been left without homes, without jobs, and
with significant delays to the start of the academic year.
On top of the trauma of the quake itself, these stresses are
taking their toll, and for some it will not be practical or
desirable to remain.

“Some of these students need and
want to move away and try to start to get on with their
lives and studies. Unfortunately, it seems some institutions
are wary of being seen to poach students or to breach
government-imposed enrolment caps. The Government needs to
step in and ensure tertiary institutions are supported to
take a coordinated national approach and that they will make
room on their campuses for those students who need to
transfer,” said Hardy.

Minister for Tertiary Education,
Steven Joyce, has stated that the two Canterbury-based
universities will re-open, but that alone will not be
enough, and he is yet to address what will happen to those
students who need to leave. While the Government has said
that institutions will not be punished for going over
enrolment caps, they have not confirmed that they will fund
these enrolments, presenting a significant disincentive for
others to take on Canterbury students.

“Information
regarding options for affected students has been scarce and
doesn’t appear to be readily publicly available.
Institutions need to do a better job communicating what
provisions are being made. While some universities have
taken a generous attitude and opened their doors others,
such as Auckland, have simply said they will not take any
new students – not good news for engineering students
needing to transfer,” added Hardy.

“We would like to
see Canterbury, Lincoln and CPIT consider contracting other
institutions in New Zealand to deliver certain courses and
potentially making distance courses available soon or
temporary transfers for at least the first trimester, and
are recommending that institutions set up a helpline to
assist displaced students,” said Hardy.

“NZUSA is
calling for a sector wide approach to addressing the issues
facing both students and universities and polytechnics. In
the aftermath of a national tragedy the people are most
important. NZUSA would gladly host a meeting of peak sector
bodies to get the collective conversation started as to how
we go about supporting them,” concluded Hardy.

NZUSA
is also commending the work being done to ensure that the
institutions in Christchurch can be open as soon as
possible.

NZUSA is the national representative body for
tertiary students and has been advocating on student issues
since
1929.

NZUSA is a national representative organisation that exists to advance the political, social and economic interests of tertiary students by providing a voice for students and through providing support for member students' associations.

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